Side wall particularly for railroad freight cars

ABSTRACT

The side wall includes a frame and three sliding wall sections arranged in a common plane when closed and being displaceable one over the other by rollers running in rails. The central section has lower runners moving on a runway rail and upper runners perpendicularly thereabove running in a guide rail, and each outer section has a lower roller between its center and its outer end running on a runway rail and a lower runner at its outer end bearing under the runway rail, each outer section having upper guide rollers running in a guide rail. The common runway and guide rails for the outer sections have, at those points which the runners and rollers engaged therewith assume in the closing position of the outer section, bends toward the longitudinal center line of the car. The runners of the central section are mounted on bell crank rocking levers pivotal about a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, so that the central section can be swung out of the common plane and moved over an outer section to open the side wall. The runway rails for the central and outer sections are constituted by a single rail section mounted in only two longitudinally spaced brackets on the lower chord of the frame, and this section is secured fixedly to one bracket while being longitudinally slidable in the other bracket. Guide fingers at the top of each outer section cooperate with catch hooks on the upper chord of the frame and which guide each outer section into the closed position, and support means on the lower chord engage the sections in the closed position to relieve the load on the supporting runners. Clamping means are provided to clamp each section in closed position to the upper and lower chords of the frame, and each outer section, with the central section swung out and displaced over the other outer section, is displaceable longitudinally to a position laterally between the central and the other outer wall sections.

United States Patent 1191 Schneider et a];

[ June 11, 1974 SIDE WALL PARTICULARLY FOR RAILROAD FREIGHT CARS [75]Inventors: Felix Schneider,

Netphen-Eckmannshausen; Gerhard Kampmann, Netphen-Dreis-Tiefenbach, bothof Germany [73] Assignee: Waggon Union GmbH, Siegen,

Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 353,402

52 us. Cl. 105/378 [51] Int. Cl B61d 19/00 [58] Field of Search 105/378,258, 280, 286; 49/142,210; 160/120 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,190,239 6/1965 Davis et al. 105/378 3.265.015 8/1966Adler....'....;.,.... 105/378 3,513,783 5/1970 Mayfield et al.. 105/3783,718,100 2/1973 Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Richard A. Berts'ch Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle[5 7] ABSTRACT The side wall includes a frame and three sliding wallsections arranged in a common plane when closed and being displaceableone over the other by rollers running in rails. The central section haslower runners Adler ct al 105/378 (Haze) moving on a runway rail andupper runners perpendicularly thereabove running in a guide rail, andeach outer section has a lower roller between its center and its outerend running on a runway rail and a lower runner at its outer end bearingunder the runway rail, each outer section having upper guide rollersrunning in a guide rail. The common runway andguide rails for the outersections have, at those points which the runners and rollers engagedtherewith assume in the closing position of the outer section, bendstoward the longitudinal center line of the car. The runners of thecentral section are mounted on bell crank rocking levers pivotal about ahorizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, so thatthe central section can be swung out of the common plane and moved overan outer section to open the side wall. The runway rails for the centraland outer sections are constituted by a single rail section mounted inonly two longitudinally spaced brackets on the lower chord of the frame,and this section is secured fixedly to one bracket while beinglongitudinally slidable in the other bracket.

Guide fingers at the top of each outer section cooperate with catchhooks on the upper chord of the frame and which guide each outer sectioninto the closed position, and support means on the lower chord engagethe-sections in the closed position to relieve the load on thesupporting runners. Clamping means are provided to clamp each section-inclosed position to the upper and lower chords of the frame,and eachouter section, with the central section swung out and dis placed overthe other outer section, is displaceable longitudinally to a positionlaterally between the central and the other outer wall sections.

10 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH 1 1 m4 38155 1 8 SHEEI 1 or 6FIG! PATENIEDJum 1 1914 saw 2 n; e

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PATENTEDJUH H 4974 3.8 18518 FIGIZ 1 SIDE WALL PARTICULARLY FOR RAILROAFREIGHT CARS FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to sliding walls, particularly for railroad freight cars, and,more particularly, to an improved sliding wall in which the functions ofthe sliding wall sections is always assured even under extreme stressdue to load and buffer shocks and in which the runway rails are notexposed to additional stresses, with the sliding sections absorbing, inthe closing position, forces resulting from the bearing of materialloaded in the car without being forced out of the closing position.

A known side wall, particularly for railroad freight cars, comprises aside wall frame and several sliding wall sections which are coplanar inthe closed state and which can be displaced one over the other, foropening, by means of rollers running on rails. The central sliding wallsection has, at its bottom and close to each end, a runner engaged in arunway rail end, at the top and perpendicularly above each runner, aguide roller running in a guide rail. Each outer sliding wall section iscarried by a roller running on a runway rail and'located between itsmidpoint and its outer end, and also carries, adjacent its outer end, arunner engaging beneath the runway rail. Guide rollers are arranged atthe top of each outer sliding wall section and run in a guide rail. Thecommon runway and guide rails for the outer sliding wall sections havehorizontal bends toward the Ion-- gitudinal axis of the car at thosepoints which their runners and guide rollers assume in their end orclosing positions. The runners and guide rollers of the central slidingwall section are secured thereon through bell crank rocking leverspivotal about a horizontal axis extending parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the car, so that the central side wall section can be swung outof its closing position for longitudinal displacement over an outersliding wall section.

In this known sliding wall, the runway and guide rails for the runnersand guide rollers of the central sliding wall section are arrangedin therange which is covered by the central sliding wall section in theclosing position of the latter. On the outer sliding wall sections, therunway and guide rails are so arranged, at the bottom, that, with thesliding wall sections closed, the runway and guide rails for the centralsliding wall section, arranged on the side wall frame, form, with therunway and guide rails for the outer sliding wall sections, a track withthe same cross section. For displacing the sliding wall sections, thecentral section is pivoted out of its closing position and moved on oneof the outer sliding wall sections, and then moved conjointly with thisouter sliding wall section in front of the other sliding wall sectionwhich is still in the closed position.

The arrangement of the sliding wall sections as such, as well as thearrangement of the runners and guide rollers on the sliding wallsections, the movement of the central sliding wall section but of theclosing position before it ismoved over an outer sliding wall section,and the arrangement and design of the runway and guide rails for theouter sliding wall sections have proven satisfactory in practice, andthe construction performs its function satisfactorily.

With loaded cars, however, the load, at extremely high buffer shocks,enhanced by the required light construction of the cars, can causedeformation of the lower chord of the side wall frame. The runway railsfor the central sliding wall section thus are displaced so thatdislocations appear at their butt joints and which jeopardize the properdisplacement of the central sliding wall sections. The runway rails forthe outer sliding wall sections can buckle sinusoidally for the samereasons, so that these wall parts can jam easily. When the outer slidingwall sections are retracted into their closing position, jammingslikewise occur, due to sagging of the upper chord, and which influencesunfavorably the operation of these wall sections.

In addition, the upper guide rollers, particularly those of the outersidewall sections, move out of the upper guide rails when the cars areloaded due to sagging of the rails and the point effect. Furthermore, ithas proven necessary to lock the sliding wall parts in closing positionso that loading material can be stacked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION closing position.

In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved in that therunway rails for the central and outer sliding wall sections of eachslide wall are formed by a single common rail section, and this commonrail section is supported merely on two longitudinally spaced bracketson the lower chord, the runway rail section being fixedly connected toone bracket while being freely slidable longitudinally of the otherbracket. Also, guide fingers are arranged on the outer sliding-wallsections, at the top thereof, and cooperate with catch hooks of theupper chord and which guide the side wall sections into theirclosingposition. Supports are provided for the outer and central sliding wallsections, to relieve the rollers, and clamps are provided for latchingthe sections to the upper and lower chords. Finally, with the centralsliding wall section swung out and displaced over one outer sliding wallsection, the other outer sliding wall section can be displaced betweenthe still closed outer sliding wall section and the central sliding wallsection.

Due to this design and arrangement of the runway rail in accordance withthe invention, the latter is mounted torsion-free in all loading statesof the car, and the sliding wall sections can move unhindered. The catchhooks in the upper chord of the side wall frame assure, in connectionwith the guide fingers of the outer sliding wall sections, a positiveintroduction of these outer sliding wall sections into the closingposition, even if the sliding wall frame is twisted. The supports forrelieving the load on the runners in the closing position of the slidingwall sections prevent premature wear of the runner bearings and alsoimprove the operation of the side wall. The outer and central slidingwall sectionshave additional latching means engageable with the lowerchord of the side wall frame. Stacks of loading material thus can bepiled against the sliding wall 3 sections or slipped loading materialcan lean against the sliding wall sections without hindering theiroperation.

I In order to improve the guidance of the runners pivotally mounted forhorizontal or vertical movement, guide rollers are arranged in therunner housings of the outer and central sliding wall sections, andassure, particularly when the outer sliding wall sections enter thebends, that the runners are guided freely on the runway rail. Thebendsand branches of the guide rail, extending toward the longitudinalaxis of the car, have, at their ends, another bend extending parallel tothe longitudinal car axis. When in these bends, the guide rollers of theouter sliding wall sections are in the closing position. With ahorizontal loading of these sliding wall sections, transverse to thelongitudinal car axis, an opening movement of the sliding wall sectionsthus is prevented.

The guide rollers of the outer sliding wall sections are arranged closeto the outer ends of these sections to improve the known side walldesign. This results in a better guidance of the sliding wall sections.The catch hook is designed as a hinged arm journalled in the upper chordthrough an oblong slot in each catch hook for rotation about a verticalaxis, and carrying at its free end a hook mouth which is open toward thetransverse center of the car, this hinged arm swiveling against theforce of a spring from a position extending with the hook mouth to theguide rail toward the respective end of the car, and the swivel path ofthe catch hook is determined by a cam secured thereon and bearing on'aguide web of the upper chord.

The latching of the outer sliding wall sections, at their ends facingeach other, with the lower chord is effected by a locking lever whichcan be turned into a guide web in the lower chord and which carries, atits free end, a roller. This locking lever is turned into a closingposition and into adisplacement position on a vertical shaft rotatablymounted on the sliding wall section, by means of a hinged lever covered,in the closing position, by the central sliding wall section.

a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in'the ac companyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS of the runway rail, taken along theline IIII of FIG. 1',

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the mounting of the runway rail,and taken along the line IIIIII of FIG.

FIG. 4 is'a vertical sectional view of the side wall illustrating thesliding wall sections displaced one over the other;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the upper chord of theside wall frame;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lower chord of the side wall frarne;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the side wall taken along theline VlII-VIII of FIG. 1 and illustrating the central sliding sectionclosed.

For the additional latching of the central sliding wall section, avertically displaceable locking bolt is arranged on the latter, andwhich is horizontally and frictionally engaged in a centering piece ofthe lower chord in the closing position of the central sliding wallsection. This lock bolt is operated by a two arm lever and blocks, withone arm, the lever of the swing-out device in the closing position.

Finally, a spring, which can be tensioned in the displacement positionwhen the sliding wall section is swung out, is arranged as anaccumulator in the swingout device to improve the operation and thecontrol mechanism of the central sliding wall section.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding wallparticularly for railroad freight cars.

Another object of the invention is to provide such improved sliding wallin which the function of the sliding wall sections is always assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sliding wallin which the sliding wall sections, in their closing position, canabsorb horizontal forces transverse to the longitudinal axis of the carwithout being forced out of the closing position.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of FIG. 9 is a view corresponding toFIG. 8 but illustrating the central sliding wall section swung out;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged elevation view of the portion of FIG. 1 indicatedat A;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevation. view of the portion of FIG. 1indicated B; V

FIG. 13 is a section taken along the line XllIXlll of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevation view illustrating that portion ofFIG. I indicatd at C.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI- -XVI of FIG. 14.

' DESCRIPTION OF TI-IE'PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Asin the known side wallconstruction mentioned above, the side wall frame includes a lower chord1 and an upper chord 2 having their ends interconnected by two cornerposts 3. The side wall, shown in FIG. I, is closed by outer sliding wallsections 5 and by a central sliding wall section 4, with the slidingwall sections in the closed state, lying in a common plane. The slidingwall sections 4 and S are sealed relative to each other and relative tothe side wall frame in the same manner as in the mentioned knownconstruction. The swing-out device, arranged on central sliding wallsection 4, alsoacts, in the same manner as in the known construction,either directly through a hand lever 9 or with the interposition of atransmission connected to the torsion shaft 10 which is fixedlyconnected with vertical push rods 12 through journals or bearings 11arranged eccentric to the axis of shaft 10, push rods 12, in turn, 7

being articulated through triangular swivel or bell crank rocking leversl6.

Each upper rocking lever 16a, which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 15on sliding wall section 4, carries, at its free end, a guide goller 17having the form of a sphere flattened on its axially opposite ends. Thelower rocking levers 16b, which are likewise pivotally mounted onsliding wall section 4, carry, at their free ends, a runner housing 18in the interior of which are arranged respective runners 20. As bestseen in FIGS. 8 and 9, a tension spring 40, acting as an accumulator, isincluded in each swing-out device, and is tensioned or stretched whencentral sliding wall section 4 is swung out, this spring enhancing theoperation during closing of sliding wall section 4.

The runners 20 and guide rollers 17 of central sliding wall section 4are arranged in runway rail 42 and guide rail 22, respectively, of theside wall frame, in the same manner as in the known construction, andboth when central sliding wall section 4 is closed and when it. is swungout and displaced longitudinally. Runway rail 42 secured on lower chord1, is C-shaped and, on its upper and lower sides, there are arrangedrunway webs 43 while, on its back side, there is provided a U-sectionfor reinforcement. Runway rail 42 is mounted solely on two brackets 45and 46 on lower chord 1, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, with rail 42being fixedly secured to bracket 35, for example, by means of screws 47,while being slidably mounted, for longitudinal displacement, in bracket46. For this purpose, the U-shaped reinforcing section 44 has, flushwith its back wall and at the top and bottom, guide pins 48 by means ofwhich it is mounted in a corresponding guide 49 on bracket 46. In caseof buckling, stretching, or bending of lower chord 1, the runway railremains free of torsion and hindrance.

Uniform guidance of runner 20 is assured in all loading and torsionstates of the car. Each housing 18 for runners 20 carries, at the top,guide rollers 50, rotatable about vertical-axes, and which run in theC-shaped section of runway rail 42 and prevent tipping of housing 18.Guide rail 22 of central sliding wall section 4 is designed as a part ofupper chord 2, as in the known construction, and extends rectilinearlythroughout the entire length of the side wall.

Runners 20 for outer sliding wall sections 5 are arranged, as in theknown construction of these sliding wall sections close to the outerends, that is those ends near corner posts 3, and close to the center ofeach sliding wall section 5, but on the side of the center toward theouter end. The runway webs 43 of runway rail 42 for central sliding wallsection 4 are used as runway rails for outer sliding wall sections 5,with each centrally arranged runner 28 resting on the upper runwayweb-43 and which each end runner 28 engaging beneath lower runway web43. Runners 28 are rotatably mounted in housings 29 which are pivotallymounted on each sliding wall section 5 for movement in a horizontalplane. Housings 29 carry guide rollers 28a bearing on both oppositesides of the associated runway 43 and guiding the'associated housing 29with its runner 28. Close to the points which outer sliding wallsections 5 assume in their closing position, upper runways 52 formingthe runway rails for the outer sliding wall sections 5 are bent offhorizontally toward the longitudinal axis of the car, and guide slidingwall sections 5 into their closing position.

As in the known sliding wall construction, upper chord 2 also forms theguide rail 24 for outer sliding wall sections 5 and, in the presentinvention, has horizontal branches 51 and bends 52 extending toward thelongitudinal car axis up to those points which guide rollers 27 ofsliding wall sections 5 assume in their final closing position. Thehorizontal branches and bends 52 arefurther bent parallel tothelongitudinal car axis,

close to their terminal ends. Guide rollers 27 of sliding wall sections5 are, in the closing position, in these bends parallel to thelongitudinal car axis. With loading material bearing on them, upwarddisengagement of sliding wall sections 5 from the side wall frame thusis avoided.

In order to guide rollers 27 into branches 51 during closing of slidingwall sections 5, guide fingers 53 are arranged at the top of thesesliding wall sections and cooperate with catch hooks 54in upper chord 2.Catch hooks 54 have longitudinal slots by means of which they arepivoted to upper chord 2, and their free ends are hook-shaped and openin the opening direction of sliding wall sections 5. A respectivetension spring 55 pulls each catch hook 54 into a position perpendicularto the longitudinal car axis,'with the associated sliding wall section 5open. On each catch hook 54, there is further provided a guide cam 56which guides sliding wall section 5, during its closing movement,through catch hook 54 by bearing on a correspondingly arranged guide web57 on upper chord 2. This arrange,- mentof parts is best illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6.

In the closing position of sliding wall sections 4 and 5, the respectiverunners 20 and 28 are relieved of loading. Referring to FIG. 8 and 9,for this purpose central sliding wall section 4 has arranged, on thelower rocking lever 16b, rollers 65 which bear on runway rail 42duringclosing of this sliding wall section and thus advantageouslyrelieve runners 20 of loading. In order to disengageably lock centralsliding wall section 4 with lower chord 1, a latching arrangement isprovided in hand levers 9 of the swing-out device, as best shown inFIGS. 12 and 13. This locking device, which secures the associated handlever 9 against accidental rotation, comprises a verticallydisplace'able locking or latching bolt 58 mounted in sliding wallsection 4 and connected, through a guide rod 59, with a lever 60 mountedonsliding wall sectionS through a journal 61 in a manner such that itfomis a two-arm lever whose lower arm serves as a handle while its upperarm extendsvertically upwardly in the closing position. Lever .60 islatched in the closingposition by acatch 53, and

chord 1 is provided with a centering piece 64 apertured to receive latchbolt 58.

The relief of runners 28, arranged centrally on outer central slidingwall sections 5 and carrying the sliding wall sections is effectedthrough supporting rollers 61 arranged on upper runway web 43. Upperrunway web 43 is provided, close to its end bent off toward thelongitudinal car axis, with a recess 43a above which runner 28 ispositioned in the closing position of sliding wall section 5. In thisposition, sliding wall section 5 bears on supporting rollers 6b througha cam 67 arranged on housing 29. This arrangement is clearly illustratedin FIGS. 10 and 11.

Referring to FIGS. 14, 15 and 16, at those ends of the outer slidingwall sections 5 facing central sliding wall section 4 there is mounted arespective shaft 69 rotatable about a vertical axis through a hingedhand lever 68, each shaft 69 carrying, at its lower end, a locking lever70 extending radially therefrom. At the free end of each locking lever70, there is mounted, for rotation about a vertical axis, a respectiveroller 71. Inthe closing position of outer sliding wall sections 5,.rollers 71 are turned, together with locking lever 70, into aweb- 7 r 772 on lower chord l, and thus connect the associated outer sliding wallsections with lower chord 1.

For opening sliding wall sections 4 and 5,central section 4 is firstturned away from the side wall frame and moved in front ofa then closedouter sliding wall section 5. For this purpose, catch 63 is lifted andlever 60 is turned to loosen locking bolt 58. Then sliding wall section4 is lifted, by means of hand lever 9 through the swing-out device, fromthe side wall frame by at least the thickness of the outer sliding wallsections 5. In this position, central sliding wall section 4 can bemoved in front of one of the two outer sliding wall sections 5. If theside wall is to be opened to a greater extent, the connection of theother sliding wall section 5 is loosened by turning locking lever 70through hand lever, 68. This sliding wall section 5 is then movedbetween the still closed outer sliding wall section 5 and the displacedcentral sliding wall section 4, initially over the bends of the runwayand guide rails 24 and 42, respectively, from the side wall frame,andthen over those sections of runway and guide rails 43 and 24extending parallel to the longitudinal car axis. The side wall is thustwo thirds open. Closing of the sliding wall is effected in thesamemanner but in the reverseorder.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. lna side wall, particularly for railroad freight cars, including aside wall frame having a lower chord and an upper chord interconnectedat their ends by corner posts, and several sliding wall sectionsarranged in a common plane when closed and which are displaceable oneover the other by rollers running in rails, the central sliding wallsection having, at its bottom and close to each of its ends, lowerrunners moving on a runway rail and, at its top, perpendicularly aboveits lower runners, upper runners running in a guide rail, each outersliding wall section having, at its bottom, a lower roller between itscenter and its outer end running on a runway rail and a lower runner atits outer end bearing under the runway rail and, at its top, upper guiderollers moving in a guide rail, with common runway and guide rails forthe outer sliding wall sections having, at those points which therunners and rollers engage therewith assumed in the closing position ofthe associated outer sliding wall section, bends toward the longitudinalcenter line of the car, the runners of the central sliding wall sectionbeing mounted thereon through bell crank rocking levers pivotal about ahorizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, and thecentral sliding wall section being swingable out of the common plane andmoved over an outer sliding wall section to open the side wall: theimprovement comprising, in combination, the runway rails for saidcentral and outer sliding wall sections being constituted by a singlerail section mounted in only two longitudinally spaced brackets on saidlower chord and secured fixedly toone bracket while being longitudinallyslidable in the other bracket; guide fingers at the top of each outersliding wall section; respective catch hooks on said upper chordcooperable with said guide fingers to guide said outer sliding wallsections into the closed position in said common plane; respectivesupport means on said lower chord for each sliding wall section,engaging the latter in the closed position thereof to relieve the loadon the supporting runners and the associated runway rails; and

other sliding wall section, being displaceable longitudi= nally to aposition laterally between said central and said other outer slidingwall sections. I

2. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which saidrunners comprise rollers rotatably mounted in respective housings on theassociated sliding wall sections; and further rollers rotatably mountedon said housing and limiting said runners against displacement in avertical direction and in a horizontal direction laterally of said sidewall.

3. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim I, in which theterminal ends of said bends in said. common runway and guide rails forsaid outer sliding wall sections are bent to extend parallel to the axisof the car.

4. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in whichthe'upper guide rollers of said outer sliding wall sections are arrangedclose to the ends of said outer sliding wall sections. i

5. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which eachcatch hook comprises a hinged arm mounted in said upper chord throughthe medium of an oblong slot in the hinged arm, for rotation about itsvertical axis; each hinged arm having, at its free end, a hooked mouthopen toward the center of the car; and respective springs biasing eachhinged arm to a position in which said hooked mouth faces toward thenearer end of the car.

6. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 5, including a camsecured on each catch hook and bearing on a guide web on said upperchord for guiding of the hooked mouth between a position facing theupper guide rail and a position facing the near end of the car. 7

7. In a side wall, the improvement-claimed in claim 1, includingrespective releasable blocking means effec'tive to releasably latch eachside wall section to said lower chord when the associated side wallsection is in its closing-position.

8. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 7, in which thelatch means on each outer sliding wall section is located at the innervertical edge thereof; the latch means for each outer sliding .wallsection including a shaft mounted on the outer sliding wall section forrotation about a vertical axis, a hand lever hinged to said shaft torotate the latter about its axis for movement into the closing positionand into a displacement position, a locking lever extending radiallyfrom the lower end of said shaft, a roller on the free end of saidlocking lever, and an arcuately slotted web on said lower chord arrangedto receive said roller upon pivoting of said shaft by said hinged handlever; said shaft and said hand lever being covered by said centralsliding wall section in the closing position of the latter.

9. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 7, in which thelatch means for the central sliding wall section comprises a verticallydisplaceable locking bolt mounted on said central sliding wall sectionand having a lower end engageable into an aperture in a centeringelement secured to said lower chord, when said central sliding wallsection is in the closing position; the operatlOngitudinaI ing means forsaid bell crank rocking levers including a manually operable swinginghandle; said notch means for said central sliding wall section furtherincluding a two arm lever pivotally mounted on said central sliding wallsection and having a first arm articulated by a link to said lockingbolt and a second arm operable to lock said manually operable handlewhen said locking bolt is engaged in said centering piece.

ing position to the swung-out position.

1. In a side wall, particularly for railroad freight cars, including aside wall frame having a lower chord and an upper chord interconnectedat their ends by corner posts, and several sliding wall sectionsarranged in a common plane when closed and which are displaceable oneover the other by rollers running in rails, the central sliding wallsection having, at its bottom and close to each of its ends, lowerrunners moving on a runway rail and, at its top, perpendicularly aboveits lower runners, upper runners running in a guide rail, each outersliding wall section having, at its bottom, a lower roller between itscenter and its outer end running on a runway rail and a lower runner atits outer end bearing under the runway rail and, at its top, upper guiderollers moving in a guide rail, with common runway and guide rails forthe outer sliding wall sections having, at those points which therunners and rollers engage therewith assumed in the closing position ofthe associated outer sliding wall section, bends toward the longitudinalcenter line of the car, the runners of the central sliding wall sectionbeing mounted thereon through bell crank rocking levers pivotal about ahorizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car, and thecentral sliding wall section being swingable out of the common plane andmoved over an outer sliding wall section to open the side wall: theimprovement comprising, in combination, the runway rails for saidcentral and outer sliding wall sections being constituted by a singlerail section mounted in only two longitudinally spaced brackets on saidlower chord and secured fixedly to one bracket while beinglongitudinally slidable in the other bracket; guide fingers at the topof each outer sliding wall section; respective catch hooks on said upperchord cooperable with said guide fingers to guide said outer slidingwall sections into the closed position in said common plane; respectivesupport means on said lower chord for each sliding wall section,engaging the latter in the closed position thereof to relieve the loadon the supporting runners and the associated runway rails; andrespective clamping means on each sliding wall section operable to clampthe same to said upper and lower chords; each outer sliding wallsection, with the central sliding wall section swung out and displacedover the other sliding wall section, being displaceable longitudinallyto a position laterally between said central and said other outersliding wall sections.
 2. In a side wall, the improvement claimed inclaim 1, in which said runners comprise rollers rotatably mounted inrespective housings on the associated sliding wall sections; and furtherrollers rotatably mounted on said housing and limiting said runnersagainst displacement in a vertical direction and in a horizontaldirection laterally of said side wall.
 3. In a side wall, theimprovement claimed in claim 1, in which the terminal ends of said bendsin said common runway and guide rails for said outer sliding wallsections are bent to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of thecar.
 4. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which theupper guide rollers of said outer sliding wall sections are arrangedclose to the ends of said outer sliding wall sections.
 5. In a sidewall, the improvement claimed in claim 1, in which each catch hookcomprises a hinged arm moUnted in said upper chord through the medium ofan oblong slot in the hinged arm, for rotation about its vertical axis;each hinged arm having, at its free end, a hooked mouth open toward thecenter of the car; and respective springs biasing each hinged arm to aposition in which said hooked mouth faces toward the nearer end of thecar.
 6. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 5, including acam secured on each catch hook and bearing on a guide web on said upperchord for guiding of the hooked mouth between a position facing theupper guide rail and a position facing the near end of the car.
 7. In aside wall, the improvement claimed in claim 1, including respectivereleasable blocking means effective to releasably latch each side wallsection to said lower chord when the associated side wall section is inits closing position.
 8. In a side wall, the improvement claimed inclaim 7, in which the latch means on each outer sliding wall section islocated at the inner vertical edge thereof; the latch means for eachouter sliding wall section including a shaft mounted on the outersliding wall section for rotation about a vertical axis, a hand leverhinged to said shaft to rotate the latter about its axis for movementinto the closing position and into a displacement position, a lockinglever extending radially from the lower end of said shaft, a roller onthe free end of said locking lever, and an arcuately slotted web on saidlower chord arranged to receive said roller upon pivoting of said shaftby said hinged hand lever; said shaft and said hand lever being coveredby said central sliding wall section in the closing position of thelatter.
 9. In a side wall, the improvement claimed in claim 7, in whichthe latch means for the central sliding wall section comprises avertically displaceable locking bolt mounted on said central slidingwall section and having a lower end engageable into an aperture in acentering element secured to said lower chord, when said central slidingwall section is in the closing position; the operating means for saidbell crank rocking levers including a manually operable swinging handle;said notch means for said central sliding wall section further includinga two arm lever pivotally mounted on said central sliding wall sectionand having a first arm articulated by a link to said locking bolt and asecond arm operable to lock said manually operable handle when saidlocking bolt is engaged in said centering piece.
 10. In a side wall, theimprovement claimed in claim 1, including a spring operativelyassociated with said bell crank rocking levers and serving as anaccumulator; said spring being tensioned responsive to displacement ofsaid central sliding wall section from the closing position to theswung-out position.